Category Archives: Recycling

I just want to quickly congratulate Solihull for its triumph at the Scrap Metal Awards Event

The work that has been undertaken in Solihull around scrap metal was recognised at a recent regional scrap metal awards event. Since the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 came into force on 1 December 2013, Solihull has achieved the second highest number of seizures of scrap metal from unlicensed dealers in the region. Solihull was praised for having shared best practice across the region with regard to dealing with the loud speakers fitted to some vehicles used to collect scrap metal. The on-going operation in Solihull involves a multidisciplinary team of PC’s Stevens and Gadd (Solihull LPU’s scrap metal SPOC’s), the Council’s Environmental Crime Unit and the Council’s Licensing Team. The operation also seeks to reduce fly tipping in Solihull by regulating the carriage, transfer and disposal of all wastes, not just scrap metal.

Shirley South Councillor, Peter Doyle led a team of volunteers, including Julian Knight, the Parliamentary Candidate for Solihull and his fiancé Philippa, this bank holiday weekend to clear up hanging hedge-growth and pick up litter in the Highlands Road/Subway area.

The team of volunteers, which was largely made up of the ‘50 strong’ Conservative Future Youth Group in Solihull, had given up some valuable revision time to come out and help. They were equipped with all the tools needed to carry out this clean up blitz, courtesy of Solihull Council.

Together they picked up litter along the roadside, grass verges, subway, pathways and even around the Hillfield Park pond area – a mountain of rubbish was collected.

Cllr Peter Doyle, who organised the event said; “I want to say a huge thank you to all those who gave up their bank holiday, especially the youngsters who took time out of their revision sessions to help make Shirley that little bit cleaner. The area we cleaned up looks great and I’ve already been contacted by delighted residents.”

Julian Knight added; “It was great to be involved with such an enthusiastic team of volunteers and to rid Shirley streets of litter. Projects like this really give me heart as it shows that people of all ages are willing to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in for their community.”

Solihull Council is reminding residents that green waste collections start up across the borough in April.

Fortnightly collections of residents’ green wheelie bins will start on either week commencing 2 April or 9 April depending on where they live. More details can be found either in the collection calendars that were issued last September or by using the online collection calendar, which is available at:www.solihull.gov.uk/refuse/rounds08.asp.

The normal collection season runs from April – December, but residents can purchase extra collections to carry on through the winter. Residents can also pay for an extra green bin to be collected if they too much green waste for one bin – there is a charge for the extra bin and its collection.

More information about buying extra green waste services can be found by emailing connectcc@solihull.gov.ukor by calling 0121 704 8000.

Councillor Peter Doyle would also like to remind those green-fingered residents that they can take advantage of a partnership with Get Composting and buy from a range of compost bins and water butts at special discounted prices.

Tempted to go green and get an Eco-friendly car. Well now it’s been made much more simple here in Solihull, with our first charging bay.

Charge your Electric car in Solihull

The bay is in Church Hill Car Park in Solihull town centre and can be used by two cars at the same time.

Anyone with an electric car can make use of the bay, they just need to register for a swipe card first to be able to access it.

Registration costs £4.85 and can be done by calling Chargemaster – the company who runs the charging point – on 020 7495 5270.

Drivers using the bay will not be charged for the electricity used, but they will have to pay the usual parking rates.

Solihull Council has also switched on to using electric cars, by having one as a pool car for its Property Services Team.

The car, which is based on a Citroen C1, runs on a 30KW electric engine powered by Lithium Ion batteries and has a range of 60 miles.

As well as saving the equivalent of 3.6 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, the car is also cheaper to ‘fill up’, costing around £1 for a full charge on normal tariffs and could save the Council over £4000 a year.

The car’s battery should last around 3000 charges, which equates to seven years if it is charged every day.

Councillor Ken Meeson, Leader of Solihull Council, said: “I’m really pleased to be able to offer a charging bay, both for our residents and for any electric car users visiting the borough. If you have an electric car, why not register for a swipe card and come and plug in?

“I’m also very happy about the Council being able to lead by example and use an electric car ourselves as it will greatly benefit the environment; if you could see the amount of CO2 it is saving per year, it would take up the space of 21 double-decker buses. Being able to cut this from our atmosphere is clearly a positive step.”

Church Hill car park can be accessed from the Church Hill Road/Homer Road island and is open 24 hours, seven days a week.

(this information was gleaned from Conservative Council leader Ken Meeson)

COMPOSTING IS NOT JUST FOR GARDENERS – IT HELPS THE ENVIRONMENT TOO!

Composting is an inexpensive, natural process that transforms your kitchen and garden waste into a valuable and nutrient rich food for your garden.

It’s easy to make and to use. This guide will show you how to get started and provide you with useful tips on how to use your finished compost.

Do your bit to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.

Even for households that are already composting, new research has found that almost half of the food waste in their rubbish bins could have been put in the compost bin.

Did you know, composting at home for just one year can save global warming gases equivalent to all the CO2 your kettle produces annually, or your washing machine produces in 3 months?

We’re often asked “Why do I need to compost when my waste will break down in landfill anyway?” When waste is sent to landfill, air cannot get to the organic waste. Therefore as the waste breaks down it creates a harmful greenhouse gas, methane, which damages the Earth’s atmosphere.

However, when this same waste is composted above ground at home, oxygen helps the waste to decompose aerobically which means no methane is produced, which is good news for the planet. And what’s more, after nine to twelve months, you get a free fertiliser for your garden and plant pots to keep them looking beautiful.